| Mr. Nerfect |
03-22-2012 07:51 AM |
I've actually thought about this recently. Since Yoshi Tatsu is the only Japanese wrestler on the active WWE roster, and the WWE is essentially the largest promotion in the world, wouldn't that (WWE kayfabe) make him the best Japanese wrestler alive today? For a while, it was legitimately Funaki. I love that guy.
But to answer the question, you have to consider the billed part, as well. Regardless of Yokozuna being Samoan or not, he was billed as being Japanese, so he technically represented Japan in a kayfabe sense. But if we're talking Japanese wrestlers, you could narrow a short-list down to:
Mr. Fuji: He's one-half of the third longest reigning World Tag Team Champions of all-time, and had three other reigns before going onto great managing success -- with him managing Yokozuna to a 1993 Royal Rumble victory and two WWE Championships.
Antonio Inoki: When you consider the entire career of the performer, and simply use performing in the WWE as a qualifier, it's hard to look past the Hall of Famer.
Taka Michinoku: Had a pretty extensive Light Heavyweight Championship run and was involved in some memorable moments, both serious and comical, in an era where "entertainment" could be used to measure the success of a performer. He's seen as somewhat of a "pioneer" of the style he brought to the WWE. Two of his students are currently under WWE developmental contract, forming two-thirds of the Japanese talent employed by the WWE.
Tajiri: Had some mid-card success in the WWE, where he was also involved in some pretty memorable stuff. As far as singles championships goes, he's the only legitimately Japanese wrestler to have held an active one in the WWE, I believe.
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